BY DEMOLA AKINYEMI
THE Federal Government has expressed its determination to continue to collaborate with friendly international  agencies to address various health problems of Nigerians because it cannot do it alone.

Minister of Health, Professor  Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this yesterday, during the official flag-off of the free eye treatment carried out by ORBIS from USA and UITH, Ilorin at the Ilorin International Airport. The ORBIS international which had been on ground for two weeks had so far successfully carried out free eye surgical operations on 200 patients with eye defects.

Professor Chukwu said that the government was humbled by the collaboration of ORBIS which he advised should be  extended to other parts of the country.

He said it was interesting that ORBIS from America was interested in assisting Nigerians with the provision of good eye sight, a gesture he said should be encouraged and emulated.

Represented  by the Director of Tertiary Health Commission of the ministry, Dr. Ego Nnadozie, the minister urged that the collaboration should  continue so that many Nigerians who  had sight problems would get treatment  in the country.

He  applauded the training of the UITH personnel by the ORBIS team, noting that such would go a long way  towards improving on the health care delivery  system in the country.

The minister assured the  UITH of the continued support of the Federal Government in such collaboration so that the nation’s health indices would improve.

In his remark, the Kwara State Governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki, who was represented at the occasion by the permanent secretary ministry of health, Dr. Abdulrasaq Amuda, said the partnership between UITH  and  ORBIS was well grounded and cherished by the state government.

He said  the invitation of ORBIS to come to the state again for the second time is a sign of good work done in their first visit to the state.

The governor also commended the University of Ilorin for facilitating the coming of ORBIS as well as the performing of operation to the people of the state free of charge.

In his welcome address, the Chief Medical Director University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital(UITH) Dr Abdulwaheed Olajide  Olatinwo said the world has been challenged  by serious issue of economic and technological advancement in the health sector.